Geoff Ogilvy is hoping to kick off the 2010 PGA Tour season in similar fashion to last year with a win at the SBS Championship.

The Australian, who recently made the decision to stop using Cobra golf equipment and instead use golf clubs from Titleist, took the title on the Plantation Course at the Kapalua Resort in Maui a year ago when romping to a six-stroke victory over Anthony Kim.

He returns to defend his crown as the only previous victor of an event at the course in the field, a fact that he hopes to use to his advantage.

Ogilvy told the Maui News: "Obviously it is always nice to come back to somewhere where you've won a golf tournament and somewhere where I played really, really well last year.

"It's never disappointing in Kapalua. It's a pretty nice place. I think everyone who is in the tournament is glad they're here."

Only PGA Tour winners from last season receive an invite to take part, with all barring Tiger Woods, Callaway golf irons user Phil Mickelson and Henrik Stenson choosing to opt in.

That means that Ogilvy faces some stiff competition if he is to defend his crown, including challenges from all four of last season's major winners.

Open Championship victor Stewart Cink is joined by fellow Nike golf driver player Lucas Glover, while Angel Cabrera and YE Yang have also been confirmed in the field.

Furthermore, Steve Stricker, who finished the 2009 PGA Tour season as the number one performer with his golf putter, will tee off and look to build on finishing runner-up in the event two years ago.

Ogilvy added: "I like the winners only from the previous year. It is a really good perk for guys who win tournaments."

The world number 14 also comes into the event with some confidence after achieving a competent end to his 2009 campaign by finishing in a share of seventh at the Australian PGA Championship behind Robert Allenby.

Meanwhile, players on the European Tour will participate in their third event on a four-run stretch in South Africa as the East London Golf Club hosts the Africa Open.

This year marks the first time that the tournament makes the jump from the Sunshine Tour to the European Tour and Darren Clarke will be looking to better his second-place finish behind Retief Goosen last year.

According to AFP, he said after a practice round: "I enjoyed playing in the Africa Open last year when finishing second behind Retief and I'm really looking forward to this tournament."

A strong home contingent of Richard Sterne, Charl Schwartzel and James Kingston - who have all began the new season brightly - are also hoping for a solid display in the South Africa's Eastern Cape.

Schwartzel lies fifth in the standings behind Spanish star Pablo Martin, who won the season-opening Alfred Dunhill Championship, while Sterne is two places back and Kingston sits in a share of 14th.

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